Plan to give Chinese firm affordable housing contract raises doubt within PTI ranks.

ISLAMABAD -- The Housing and Works Division's move to award a multibillion-rupee contract for the construction of five million affordable housing units for the low-income group to a Chinese firm has raised questions of transparency in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

Ministers for science and technology, and planning and development have raised questions of transparency in their comments on the proposed award of contract to a Chinese firm for building affordable housing units. Following their observations, the cabinet directed the Housing and Works Division to revisit draft of the proposed deal with the Chinese firm.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Housing and Works Division had briefed the cabinet last month that China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) was interested in the government's initiative of constructing five million affordable housing units for the low-income group in Pakistan.

A draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Housing and Works and CGGC was forwarded to the Board of Investment (BOI). It examined the MoU thoroughly and supported the intent and the Law and Justice Division also vetted the draft MoU from the legal point of view.

The draft MoU between the Ministry of Housing and Works and CGGC was required to be approved by the cabinet. The Housing and Works Division informed the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, that a summary was submitted to seek its approval.

The summary was circulated among all cabinet members for their opinion. Twenty members of the cabinet endorsed the proposal of Housing and Works Division whereas reply from three members was awaited to date.

Earlier this week The Express Tribune had approached the Housing and Works Division for a version, which was awaited till the filing of this story.

Ministers for planning, development and special initiative, and...